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Tuesday, April 08, 2014

Guddi

"It's not possible you know?"

"Hmm."

"I mean, think of it. Guddi wouldn't even be living with us forever. She has to marry someday, and with that, she will take whatever I have earned. Hefty dowries and all. You know very well how difficult for us it is already."

"Hmm."

"And why should we need a daughter when we already have three sons. Yes, they will grow up, and become engineers and doctors, and free us from poverty. Yes, they will."

"Hmm."

"Tomorrow, just before daybreak, leave her besides the well. Gods will take care of her, don't worry."

But, in a way, I also feel like they should just kill her... At least her life is saved from such a bakward thinking parents and a whole life of discrimination ahead...Like the mercy killing... I dont know...

That's terrible. Both the parents should die, mute acceptance is just as cruel. Nicely written, though I'm not sure nice is the right word. It made me want to give up on the world; but you can take that as a compliment!

I am not sure how to respond to this as a westerner, but what disturbed me most was the sense of resignation in the comments to the situation, a feeling that nothing could be done to change it. Is this really the case, is there no feminism in India?

Your questions are absolutely reasonable Martine. However, it's not a matter of feminism, but of education. We have had several female leaders who have held powerful positions in recent years. People have to learn about right or wrong, and what should be done and what should not. Again, this conflict of judgement is not only limited to one part of the globe, but almost everywhere. Evils are present in different forms, and the real challenge lies in curbing them. But then again, someday, time will smile, and only good will prevail :-)